Structural movement warning device



Jan. 7, 1958 J. P. JOHNSON 2,819,359

STRUCTURAL MOVEMENT WARNING DEVICE Filed Oct. 24, 1955 John P. Johnson INVENTOR. 1

United States Patent -O STRUCTURAL MOVEMENT WARNING DEVICE John P. Johnson, Vicksburg, 'Miss.

ApplicationOctober 24, 1955, Serial No. 542,311

1 Claim. (Cl. 200 52) This invention relates generally to warning systems and ismore particularly concernedwith a. warning system incorporated between adjacent structural components wherein relative movement thereof beyond a predetermined limit will actuate a signal circuit.

A more specific object of the invention in conformance with that set forth above is to provide a warning system with a novel switch assembly including a current conducting housing supported in insulated relationship from a first structural component, and a current conducting rod supported in insulated relationship from an adjacent structural component, the current conducting rod having a part extending into the current conducting housing and engageable therewith when movement beyond a predetermined limit occurs between the adjacent structural components.

A further object of the invention in conformance with that set forth above is to provide any warning system of the character involved with a signal assembly actuated by relative movement between adjacent structural components, said signal assembly being operative to ascertain relative longitudinal and lateral movement between said components, and being operatively connected to the solenoid mechanism for actuating a signal warning circuit incorporating a signal means.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the warning system as installed, and showing in dotted lines an alternate position of the switch assembly utilized therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure l Figure 3 is a further enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the current conducting housing and cooperating current conducting rod; and

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram showing diagrammatically the various components of the warning system.

Indicated generally at is a fragmentary portion of a structure which may be a building, bridge, etc. which includes the structural components indicated generally at 12, 14 and 16 each of which being supported in a generally fixed relationship, between reasonable limits, by suitable support members 18 and 20, for example, it being understood that when the various adjacent structural components which are generally spaced as seen at 22 and 24 move beyond a predetermined safe limit, there is a danger of the structure collapsing and accordingly the users thereof should be warned of this situation.

A warning system is indicated generally at 26 and includes a plurality of switch assemblies 28 which are suitably supported between adjacent structural components for apprising the building user of shifting movement therebetween.

The switch assemblies28 each include an electrical current conducting tubular housingelement'30 having an end wall 32 suitably; secured to an electric current conducting wire 33,-.said housing element 30' having circumposed thereon a suitable electrical current insulating gas-ket element 34 interposed between the housing 30 and a circular.bracketelementh36 which is suitably secured to one of thestructural-components, such as that indicated at l2-by means of suitable fastening elements 38.

The adjacent structural component 14 has suitably secured thereon by means-of the, fastener elements 40 a supportbracket-42 includingan upper circular portion 44. receiving therein ,aeurrent conducting rod element 46, Sa d r ent ndustiaemd .6 vin cirwmposed thereon a suitable insulating element 48 with the portion of the rod 46 received within the portion 44 of the support bracket 42. The rod has an end portion 50 extending into the open end 52 of the housing 30 and accordingly, when relative lateral movement, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, occurs between the structural components 12 and 14 after a predetermined amount of safe movement therebetween, the rod 50 will contact the inner periphery 54 of the housing 30 and accordingly a circuit will be closed therebetween inasmuch as the rod 46 is suitably connected to an electrical conducting wire 56.

A boot member made of rubber or any other suitable flexible material is indicated at 58 and includes an intermediate fold or slack portion 60 having suitable apertured portions for permitting the exit of the conductor 56 in the end 62 thereof, and also including a suitable aperture permitting the insertion of the bracket 42 therein. The boot 58 is suitably secured about the open end 52 of the housing 30 and accordingly aids in sealing out moisture, dirt, etc. from within the switch assembly 28.

As seen in Figure 5, the switch assembly 28- is connected in series through the conductors 33 and 56 to a source of potential 64 and an electrically actuated solenoid 66 of any conventional character. Thus engagement between the housing 30 and the end 50 of the conductor rod 46 results in actuation of the solenoid plunger 68 and the closing of a switch assembly 70 of any conventional character which is incorporated in a warning circuit indicated generally at 72 which includes warning means indicated at 74, said warning means comprising an alternately lighting light or horn, etc., the switch 70 being connected by means of conductors 76 and 78 to the source of potential 64 and the signal means 74, and the signal means 74 is connected by means of the conductor 78 to the source of potential 64 thus defining a separate circuit from thatactuated by the switch assembly 28. The switch assembly 70 is of the type which will be retained in an actuated position until manually reset, and accordingly, the instant the housing 30 is in contact with the rod 46 the switch 70 will be actuated by the solenoid 68 and even when there is no longer engagement between a rod 46 and the housing 30, the switch 70 will be actuating the warning circuit 72.

As seen in Figure 1, each of the warning assemblies 28 incorporate separate and independent circuits, and may also be utilized to actuate different colored lights for indicating different areas of the structure. Also as seen in Figure 1, the switch assembly 28 as shown my the dotted lines may be disposed in an angular relationship on its longitudinal axis relative to the adjacent structural com ponents thus longitudinal movement between the structural components will result in the engagement between the rod 46 and the inner periphery 54 of the housing 30 as well as such contact occurring by virtue of lateral movement therebetween.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A switch for a signaling circuit to signal movement between two adjacent structural components comprising a first bracket attachable to one of the components and having a circular portion, a tubular electrically conductive contact housing extending through and fixed in said circular portion and having a closed end and an open end, an insulating gasket interposed between said circular portion and said housing, a flexible contractile insulation boot having a closed end and an open end sleeved onto the open end of said housing, a second bracket attachable to the other component and extending into and fixed to said boot to contract the same in response to movement of said components toward each other, a contact rod disposed entirely within said housing and boot and fixed in and insulated from said second bracket for engagement with any part of the interior of said housing upon deformation of said boot to close an electric circuit, and a circuit wire extending through the closed end of said boot and connected to said rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 192,909 Forbes July 10, 1877 2,258,334 Miller Oct. 7, 1941 2,498,819 Noville Feb. 28, 1950 2,592,742 Rose Apr. 15, 1952 2,650,560 Bear Sept. 1, 1952 2,689,341 Holst Sept. 14, 1954 2,740,007 Amelang Mar. 27, 1956 

